Japan has always been on the edge when it comes to hairstyles and clothing; however the styles that are popular now are very strange to Westerners. That’s because many of them are theme based, like the Sweet Lolita style that is basically like dressing like a five-year-old girl complete with teddy bear. Then, there are the other styles that are more functional, like the skirt that turns into a vending machine. Of all the styles that are popular in Japan right now you will notice some of the most popular are platform shoes, lots of makeup, and dark tans. Be sure to check out each photo in detail to see the strange hairstyles and accessories that go along with these looks.

Vending Machine Skirt
Yes, seriously, this does exist. The point is to have this clothing on so in case you are targeted for a rape/mugging or some other violent crime you can simply turn yourself into a vending machine. I’m not sure how long it takes to transform and if someone is chasing you how that all plays out. But, if you are interested in a skirt that turns into a vending machine there is one available.

Sewer Cover Purse
The point of this purse is not style. It is to ward off would-be thieves who want your purse. I guess you act like you are going to hit them with it… Or, maybe in the dark it isn’t so obvious that you have all kinds of things inside this bag and a small Japanese woman could actually fool a would-be attacker into thinking she is just carrying this sewer cover along for protection.

Glow in the Dark
Clothes that glow in the dark would have been super cool in 7th grade. But for adults? I’m not so sure. Maybe it does look cool while dancing in a dark and crowded club. Or maybe it just looks, well, weird.

Very Colorful
This is certainly a very colorful outfit. The look is quite popular in Japan, though.

Origami Dress Anyone?
This dress looks like some kind of mixture of origami and a napkin at a fine restaurant.

Japanese or Austrian?
Apparently this new Japanese style called Sweet Lolita is all the rage. But, it doesn’t look Japanese at all and it really looks like something straight out of the Sound of Music!

Goth/Punk Attire
What are those? Lace up leg warmers? Also, what is the girl on the left wearing on her head? Is that a hat? And why is the girl on the right going to such effort to dress gothic while wearing a super conservative jacket?

Gothic Lolita

These girls really walk around like this. The goal is to be gothic yet feminine. An interesting mix.

Gothic Guys

Is he wearing a corset? The black lipstick certainly matches his attire, but that’s about all it does.

Strawberry Shortcake

This seriously looks like Strawberry Shortcake to me. But, it is all part of that Sweet Lolita style going on in Japan.

Present Day Japan or 1800s Southern USA?

I think this came from the set of “Gone With the Wind”. But these frilly umbrellas are very popular with the sweet Lolita trend.

PVC and Lace Gloves

These gloves are made of PVC and lace. How sexy?!?

Bondage Pants

Every man needs his very own pair of bondage pants complete with a million zippers!

Color Coordinated

From her hair to her toes she is color coordinated. It is kind of like Punk Little House on the Prairie.

Little Girl Inspired

Check out her hair! As if the poufy dress, teddy bear and the little girl socks weren’t enough! Teddy bears have become popular accessories with women dressing in this style.

Blue/Red Hair

Blue hair, blue makeup, PVC dress, dreads. What’s not to like?

Vinyl

I think everything they are wearing is vinyl!

Ganguro Girl

This is another Japanese style that is popular. It is called Ganguro and it is not to be confused with Yamanba. This style is also all about dark tans, blonde hair, and the Barbie style. The tans and makeup are in stark contrast to one another. Notice the platform shoes and short shorts.

How to find the perfect black trousers.

If there’s one fashion item every woman needs, it has to be a good pair of black trousers. Get them right, and they’ll make you look slimmer and taller, go with practically every top in your wardrobe, and take you anywhere from a business meeting to a cocktail party. But tracking down that perfect pair of trousers is only slightly less difficult than finding the perfect man or the perfect job, so I’ve gathered together all the tips I can find to help narrow down your search.

Petite? Look for straight, bootleg or slightly flared legs; very wide trousers will make you look square. Trousers that sit on or very slightly below your natural waistline will help make your legs look longer. Avoid turn-ups, which have a shortening effect.

Hourglass figure? You’ll probably find that most trousers that fit on the hips are way too big at the waist, and anything that would fit your waist won’t zip up at the hips.The best solution is to buy a pair that fits at the hips, then get them altered to fit your waist – most good dry cleaners offer an alterations service. It means spending an extra £20 or so, but the result will be a pair of trousers that feel like they were made for you.

Pear-shaped? Bootlegs or a slight flare will balance out your hips and make you look more in proportion. Avoid anything skinny or tapered; you might as well wear a sign saying ‘Look at my hips. Big, aren’t they?’

Boyish figure? Most trouser styles will look good on you, but if you want to give the illusion of more curves, choose a bootcut style that sits below the waist.

Tall? Your main problem will be finding trousers that are long enough. It’s worth looking at the younger end of the market, whose standard leg lengths are often a little bit longer than average. Top Shop and Long Tall Sally are both good for Tall ranges. And my very best tip? When you find that perfect pair, buy three of them!

Celebrity trendwatch: red heels 

Is it me, or is February the most miserable month of the year? It’s cold, it’s grey, Christmas is over and it seems ages till spring. If there’s ever a time when a girl needs a little something to cheer her up, it’s now – and flipping through the glossy mags, I’ve spotted just the thing. What could be a better pick-me-up than a pair of red heels? I saw them first on Victoria Beckham, as she tottered off to a New Year party in a stunning black lace dress; all very fabulous, I thought, but not exactly the kind of outfit I could wear to the office. But then there they were again, this time on Katie Holmes, worn with an immaculately-cut navy skirt and classic cream sweater –  by itself, the sort of outfit anyone might wear to work, but those red heels just transformed it. By the time I’d seen them on Anna Friel, with a very stylish monochrome ruffled top and sleek black pencil skirt, I knew I had to have a pair.   There are lots of them in the shops – LK Bennett’s come in red suede with a bow on the front and a lovely shapely heel, while Office have a pair a bit like Anna Friel’s, but with a delicate double strap. But as someone who wears black most of the time, I’m going to get enough of a shock looking down and seeing red shoes, without adding any extra details, so I’ll be going for the glossy, perfectly plain red courts from the Limited Collection at M&S. They’ll be perfect with a black suit for work, and a fantastic update for the little black dress as well. Not so great for running for the train, admittedly, but I could always try clicking my heels together to get me home….or does that only work if you live in Kansas?

 How to look 10lbs slimmer – instantly! Hands up if your New Year’s resolution was to lose weight? I read recently that something like 40% of us plan to start a diet and/or gym programme this January, but personally, I can’t think of a worse time to try to shed the pounds. Most of us still have a cupboard full of fattening little treats from Christmas (rum truffle, anyone?), and when it’s cold and dark outside, the idea of a jog round the block and a little light salad is, to say the least, less than inviting. So my advice would be to save the diet plan for spring, and go shopping instead. Whether you’re top or bottom heavy, or just plumper than you’d like, you can look taller and slimmer without losing a single pound, just by choosing the right clothes. I did a little survey of my best-dressed friends – of all shapes and sizes – to find out which clothes work miracles for them, and these are our tried and tested tips:

• Black, black, black! Everyone swears by it – slip on a well-cut black suit, or a curve-skimming dress, and you’ll look ten pounds lighter, instantly. If it’s a bit too harsh for your colouring, wear something light-reflecting near your face – pearl, mother of pearl or not-too-shiny silver work brilliantly.
• Boot cut or slightly flared trousers and jeans work wonders on chunky hips and thighs, because they balance out your silhouette. Try on a pair of tapered trousers and then some bootcut ones, and you’ll see the difference instantly.
• Wrap tops, V-necks and scoop necks are all great for making you look taller and slimmer, because they lead the eye downwards. If you’re not comfortable revealing your assets, the trick still works if you wear a contrasting camisole or vest top underneath.
• Wearing the same colour from top to toe makes you look taller, and therefore slimmer. That doesn’t have to mean the same shade – different tones of the same colour can work just as well. Wearing tops and bottoms in contrasting colours cuts you in half and makes you look shorter and wider, which unless you’re going for a part in Teletubbies, isn’t the aim (yes, I know Teletubbies are one colour from head to toe – but just imagine how much fatter they’d look if they weren’t).
• The shops are full of fabulous long knitted cardigans and coats, which are great for disguising lumps and bumps. Choose finer knits rather than enormously chunky ones, and go up a size if necessary, so they skim over your hips and bum. Yes, it’s painful to get that next size, but everyone knows high street sizing is totally arbitrary anyway, and no one’s going to see the label, are they?

So how about you? Do you have a ‘magic’ outfit that always makes you look and feel slimmer? What are the most slimming cuts and fabrics for your shape? Share your tips by posting a comment below, and we’ll all look fabulous in 2008!